The last player to lead in consecutive seasons? Jerry Rice.
“Andre’s the whole package,” said CBS analyst Rich Gannon, who broadcast the game between the Texans and Dolphins. “I was saying to [broadcast partner] Ian Eagle before the game that he’s big and fast and catches the ball perfectly with his arms outstretched. He’s arguably the best receiver in the game.”
Argument? Not from the Dolphins.
“You can’t find a weakness,” said nickel back Nate Jones, who saw Johnson slip his tackle to score a 10-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
“We had our hands full with him,” said cornerback Sean Smith, who was in single coverage when Johnson caught a 13-yard pass on the first play of the game. It was the last time Miami coach Tony Sparano left Johnson in single coverage.
“He’s the best receiver in the league,” said linebacker Charlie Anderson, who was a rookie with Houston in 2004, Johnson’s second year in the league. “I’m 6-4, 240, and he looks as big as me.”
Johnson is all size (6-3, 225 pounds) and speed (4.4 in the 40-yard dash), with a running back’s thighs.
“He uses his size and strength to drive off defenders and catch the ball,” said Dolphins commentator Jim Mandich. “He’s a Rolex, others are Timex.”
Johnson grew up in the shadow of Land Shark Stadium and was part of the great University of Miami team that went 12-0 in 2001 and had players like Jeremy Shockey, Ed Reed, Clinton Portis and Jonathan Vilma. On Sunday, Johnson had 150 of his friends and family sitting in Section 407, where nearby Miami fans spent the afternoon booing.
